Flexible gaskets for wireless terminals with sliding members

ABSTRACT

Gaskets and wireless terminals with gaskets for sealing a space between sliding members in wireless terminals. The wireless terminals include: (a) a first member; (b) a second member overlying the first member, wherein at least one of the first and second members is configured to slide between open and closed configurations; and (c) a gasket attached to the first and second members, the gasket having an elongate body portion with opposing first and second end portions affixed to a respective one of the first and second members. The gasket is configured to provide an electrical path between at least one component in the first member to at least one component in the second member. The elongate body portion is configured to snugly abut the first and second members to inhibit dust from entering a target interior space when the wireless terminal is in the open configuration.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/544,629, filed Aug. 20, 2009, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/552,160, filed Oct.24, 2006, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,596,396 on Sep. 29, 2009, andwhich claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 60/803,262, filed May 26, 2006, the contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of communications, and, moreparticularly, to wireless terminals incorporating the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless terminals, such as wireless mobile telephones can includesliding members. Unfortunately, the translation can allow environmentaldebris, such as dust, to enter into internal portions of the telephone,which may degrade performance over time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide gaskets that can attach tomembers that translate to seal interior portions of the device and/orinhibit environmental debris from entering regions holding sensitiveoperating components in the device. The gaskets can hold or includeelectrical paths that can allow components in different housing membersto be in electrical communication.

Some embodiments of the invention are directed to wireless terminals.The wireless terminals include: (a) a first member; (b) a second memberoverlying the first member, wherein at least one of the first and secondmembers is configured to slide between open and closed configurations;and (c) a gasket attached to the first and second members, the gaskethaving an elongate body portion with opposing first and second endportions affixed to a respective one of the first and second members.The gasket is configured to provide an electrical path between at leastone component in the first member to at least one component in thesecond member. The elongate body portion is configured to snugly abutthe first and second members to inhibit dust from entering a targetinterior space when the wireless terminal is in the open configuration.

In some embodiments, the gasket can have a curvilinear side profileshape in the open and closed configurations. The curvilinear profile canhave first and second axially extending leg portions on opposing sidesof a fold region with the fold region residing at a forwardmost locationof the gasket in a opening sliding direction of the second housingmember. The first leg portion is closer to the first housing member thanthe second leg portion and the second leg portion is closer to thesecond housing member than the first leg portion. The second leg portionis longer than the first leg portion in the open position. Optionally,the first and second leg portions can have a length that issubstantially the same in the closed configuration.

The gasket can include a flexible non-conductive substrate with aflexible circuit thereon or therein. The gasket can include anelastically stretchable substrate. The gasket can be tubular andcompressible.

In some embodiments, the first member has a keypad and a power source incommunication with a transceiver that transmits and receives wirelesscommunications signals. The second member has a display overlying andslidably attached to the first member. The second member is configuredto slide between open and closed configurations. In the closedconfiguration the first and second members are configured so that thesecond member substantially covers the keypad on the first member. Inthe open configuration the second member resides above and axially abovea top portion of the first member to reveal the keypad on the firstmember.

The wireless terminal product can include a wireless mobile telephone.

The gasket can have first and second opposing end portions, with thefirst end portion statically affixed to the first member and the secondend portion is statically affixed to the second member.

The gasket can be configured to matably releasably lock against walls ofa channel in the first member. The gasket can include a sliding lock orzipper attachment mechanism.

The wireless terminal can include a sliding plate mounted to the firstmember, the plate having a contoured perimeter portion for closingagainst a perimeter shape of the gasket. In some embodiments, the gasketis attached to the sliding plate and is pulled back and forth inresponse to movement of the sliding plate.

The gasket may have first and second electrical connection end portionswith the second electrical connection end portion configured to engage alaterally extending channel formed through a rear surface of the secondmember.

Some embodiments are directed to flexible elongate gaskets for awireless terminal. The gaskets have electrical connections on spacedapart opposing first and second end portions, and the gasket defines anelectrical path therebetween. The flexible elongate gasket is configuredto reside in abutting contact against first and second members, at leastone of which is slidable relative to the other. The gasket is sized andconfigured to occupy a target gap space between the first and secondmembers to form a seal that inhibits dust from entering the gap space.

The gasket may be substantially tubular. The gasket may have a firstfolded configuration in the open configuration and a second foldedconfiguration different from the first configuration in the closedconfiguration.

The gasket can be configured to matably releasably lock against a rigidmember.

The gasket can have a sliding lock or zipper attachment mechanism.

Some embodiments are directed to methods for inhibiting dust fromentering a housing compartment in a mobile telephone with a slidingmember. The methods include: (a) sliding a second member over a secondmember to open a mobile telephone; (b) automatically translating agasket defining an electrical path between a battery in the first memberto a display in the second member in response to the sliding step; and(c) inhibiting dust from entering the mobile telephone in response tothe translating step.

The method may also optionally include: affixing a first end portion ofthe gasket to the first member and a second opposing end portion of thegasket to the second member so that the first and second end portionsare held securely and statically in position; and threading a portion ofthe gasket through an aperture in the second member whereby the gasketsubstantially seals the opening and serial portions of the gasket travelthrough the opening to translate axially during the translating step.

These and other embodiments will be described further below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top view of a wireless terminal device illustrating thedevice in a closed configuration according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1B is a side view of the wireless terminal shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a partial cutaway side view of the device shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a top view of the wireless terminal device shown in FIG. 1A,with the device in an open configuration according to embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the opened device shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is a partial cutaway side view of the opened device shown inFIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a partial cutaway side view of a wireless terminal with agasket that includes at least one electrical path or lead between firstand second members according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a partial cutaway side view of the wireless terminal shown inFIG. 3A, with the device in an opened configuration and the gasketcompressed relative to the closed configuration according to someembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a gasket according to embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 5A-5C are partial end perspective views of exemplaryconfigurations of gaskets that fit target gap spaces according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5D is a side perspective view of a tubular gasket according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a top view of a lower portion of a wireless terminal with agasket that can translate in response to translation of a sliding memberaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 6B and 6C are side schematic views of the gasket configurationshown in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A is a schematic top view of a lower member with a slidingmechanism in a closed configuration according to some embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7B is a schematic top view of the lower member shown in FIG. 7Awith the sliding mechanism in an open configuration according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8A is a schematic illustration of the device shown in FIG. 7A witha gasket in position in a closed configuration of the sliding mechanismaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8B is a schematic illustration of the device shown in FIG. 7B withthe gasket shown in FIG. 8A in position in an open configuration of thesliding mechanism according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8C is a schematic top view of the upper sliding member with anaperture configured to attach to the loose gasket end portion shown inFIG. 8B according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 9A is a schematic side perspective view of a releasably lockableconfiguration of a gasket according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9B is a front schematic view of the configuration shown in FIG. 9A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of theinvention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. It willbe appreciated that although discussed with respect to a certainembodiment, features or operation of one embodiment can apply to others.

Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, thethickness of certain lines, layers, components, elements or featuresand/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Broken lines illustrateoptional features or operations unless specified otherwise. Featuresdescribed with respect to one embodiment can also apply to anotherembodiment.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on”,“attached” to, “connected” to, “coupled” with, “contacting”, etc.,another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to,coupled with or contacting the other element or intervening elements mayalso be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being,for example, “directly on”, “directly attached” to, “directly connected”to, “directly coupled” with or “directly contacting” another element,there are no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciatedby those of skill in the art that references to a structure or featurethat is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions thatoverlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layersand/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/orsections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only usedto distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section fromanother region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component,region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a secondelement, component, region, layer or section without departing from theteachings of the present invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural fauns as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or”includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associatedlisted items. As used herein, phrases such as “between X and Y” and“between about X and Y” should be interpreted to include X and Y. Asused herein, phrases such as “between about X and Y” mean “between aboutX and about Y.” As used herein, phrases such as “from about X to Y” mean“from about X to about Y.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the specification andrelevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions orconstructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

The term “gasket” refers to a member that defines a seal that inhibitsdust from entering an interior compartment or region. The gasket can beflexible and resiliently deformable to repetitively compress between twohousing members, then return to a pre-compressed shape based on theopening and closing of the wireless terminal. The gasket can beimpermeable to fluids such as air, or may be breathable but configuredto filter out dust or particulate debris. The gasket material may beelastically stretchable, at least for a length commensurate with thesliding stroke length. The gasket can be configured to exhaust heat andmoisture while inhibiting dust or moisture from entering the device. Thegasket can be moisture resistant. The gasket may be formed from anelastomeric material, such as a polymeric material. The gasket can beformed from material similar to 3M™ medical products such as, but notlimited to, Tegaderm™, Medipore™, Micropore™, Transpore™, Durapore™ andother air permeable barrier materials. These materials are barriers thathelp prevent external contaminants from entering a target site whileletting oxygen in and moisture vapor out.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail belowwith reference to the figures. Although primarily described with respectto the wireless terminal being a mobile telephone, the invention may besuitable for other wireless terminal devices. As used herein, the term“wireless terminal” may include, but is not limited to, portable radiocommunication equipment such as a mobile radio termina, includingcellular wireless terminals or mobile telephones with or without amulti-line display; a Personal Communications System (PCS) terminal thatmay combine a cellular wireless terminal with data processing, facsimileand data communications capabilities; a PDA that can include a wirelessterminal internet/intranet access, web browser, pager, organizer,calendar and/or a GPS receiver; pagers; organizers; smartphones; and aconventional laptop and/or palmtop receiver or other appliance thatincludes a wireless terminal transceiver. Wireless terminals may also bereferred to as “pervasive computing” devices and may be mobileterminals. The wireless terminal devices may operate at a single ormultiple frequency bands.

Examples of operating systems that may be incorporated into a wirelessterminal include, a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), whichis a digital mobile telephone system that typically operates at a lowfrequency band, such as between 880 MHz and 960 MHz; a DigitalCommunications System (DCS), which is a digital mobile telephone systemthat typically operates at high frequency bands, such as between 1710MHz and 1880 MHz. In addition, the wireless terminals may include globalpositioning systems (GPS) or Bluetooth systems use frequencies of 1.575or 2.4-2.48 GHz. The wireless terminal may employ frequency bandsallocated for mobile terminals in North America, such as, for example,824-894 MHz for Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) and 1850-1990 MHzfor Personal Communication Services (PCS). The wireless terminals caninclude these and/or other frequency bands for use in otherjurisdictions.

In certain embodiments, the wireless terminals may be configured withantennas that provide resonance for a global positioning system (GPS),and can include a GPS receiver. GPS operates at approximately 1.575 GHz.GPS is well known to those skilled in the art. GPS is a space-basedtriangulation system using satellites and computers to measure positionsanywhere on the earth. Compared to other land-based systems, GPS is lesslimited in its coverage, typically provides continuous twenty-four hourcoverage regardless of weather conditions, and is highly accurate. Inthe current implementation, a constellation of twenty-four satellitesthat orbit the earth continually emit the GPS radio frequency. Theadditional resonance of the antenna as described above permits theantenna to be used to receive these GPS signals.

Conventional wireless terminals typically employ an antenna that iselectrically connected to a transceiver operatively associated with asignal processing circuit positioned on an internally disposed printedcircuit board. In order to increase the power transfer between anantenna and a transceiver, the transceiver and the antenna may beinterconnected such that their respective impedances are substantially“matched,” i.e., electrically tuned to compensate for undesired antennaimpedance components, to provide a 50-Ohm (Ω) (or desired) impedancevalue at the feed point.

Referring to FIGS. 1A-1C and 2A-2C, the wireless terminal 10 includes afirst member 15 and a second member 20, with a flex circuit 25 extendingtherebetween. The wireless communication device 10 shown in the figuresmay be a radiotelephone type radio terminal of the cellular or PCS type.The first member 15 can include a keypad 15 k and the second member 20can include a display 20 d. The first member 15 can include a circuitboard 16 with operating components, a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver17, and a power source 18 (i.e., a battery). The flex circuit 25provides an electrical communication path to supply power and transportdata from the first member 15 to the second member 20. As shown in FIGS.1C and 2C, when the second member 20 moves between the open and closepositions, the flex circuit 25 allows or causes a gap 28 that can allowdust to get into the interior of the second member 20 of the wirelessterminal 10.

The transceiver 17 can be electrically connected to a controller 19 suchas a microprocessor (digital signal processor) held on the circuit board16. The controller 19 can be electrically connected to a speaker (notshown) that is configured to transmit a signal from the controller 19 toa user of a wireless terminal. The controller can also electricallyconnected to a microphone that receives a voice signal from a user andtransmits the voice signal through the controller and transceiver to aremote device. The controller can be electrically connected to thekeypad 15 k and display 20 d that facilitate wireless terminaloperation. Operation of a wireless terminal and the transceiver,controller, speaker and microphone are well known to those of skill inthe art and need not be described further herein.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the gasket 50 is flexible and elasticallydeformable and compressible. FIG. 3A illustrates the gasket 50 trappedbetween the first and second members 15, 20 when the wireless terminal10 is closed. FIG. 3B illustrates the gasket 50 when the wirelessterminal 10 is open, with the gasket 50 folded over itself and snuglyabutting both the first and second members 15, 20, respectively, in amanner that substantially fills the cavity 28 between the first andsecond members 15, 20. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the gasket 50 canhave a curvilinear profile shape that changes as the second member 20slides above the first member 15. The curvilinear profile has anuppermost forward fold region 55 and two opposing leg portions 56, 57,respectively. The length of the leg portions 56, 57 changes from theopen to the closed configuration such that the lower leg portionincreases from the closed to open configuration and the location of thefold region 55 moves upward relative to the lower member 15 in thedirection that the second member 20 slides.

In other wireless terminal configurations, the fold region 55 may be indifferent locations, such as, for example, closer to the lower portionof the device and may move downward. In addition, rather than the secondmember 20 sliding on the first member 15, the first member 15 mayslidably mount to the second member 20 or each may slide relative toeach other (not shown), with the gasket configuration altered asappropriate.

FIG. 4 illustrates the gasket 50 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The gasket 50includes at least one electrical path 51 that extends between endportions of the gasket 52, 53, respectively. The electrical path 51comprises metal traces that can be inked, painted, spray deposited,molded or otherwise fixated on or into the gasket material. Theelectrical path 51 can be formed on a flex film circuit that is thenattached to the gasket 50 as a carrier substrate. The gasket 50 can haveany appropriate shape and thickness, and may optionally be the same orthicker than conventional flex film circuits. For example, for a tubulargasket 50 an exemplary thickness range is between about 0.2 mm to about0.6 mm and end portions may be thicker and/or include laminated or otherstructures with sufficient rigidity to hold a desired shape. Theelectrical path 51 can include a plurality of electrical discrete pathsthat merge into respective electrical connections 52 c, 53 c that engagewith electronic circuits in the first and second members 15, 20,respectively.

The end portions of the gaskets 52, 53 can be configured to fixedlyattach to one of the respective first and second members 15, 20, andremain fixed in location irrespective of movement of the members 15, 20.In operation the length of the primary body of the gasket between theend portions allows the sliding translation by changing configurationsas the members 15, 20 translate with respect to each other. Theattachment may be by a connector matably attachable to the respectivemember 15, 20. Alternatively, the end portions 52, 53 of the gasket 50can be screwed, pinned, snapped or adhesively attached to the respectivemember 15, 20. For the adhesive attachment, an optional peel-offremovable protectant film 59 (FIG. 4) can be applied to the gasket 50during shipment, then removed prior to use or during manufacture of thewireless terminal product.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, the gasket 50 can be tubular with a shape 50 a,50 b, 50 c, that fits the target gap space to be covered and/or sealed.In the tubular embodiment, the interior of the gasket 50 may be open andthe flex circuit may reside on an interior surface or an exteriorsurface or even buried a depth into one or more of the sidewalls of thegasket 50. The length of the gasket 50 can be between about 35-40 mmlong, but can vary depending on the stroke length of the slidingmember(s). The gap space that the gasket 50 will cover can have an areaof about 35×40 mm (width×length).

FIG. 5D illustrates one example of a tubular gasket 50 d with endportions 52, 53 having increased rigidity over the flexible intermediatebody 54 for mechanical attachment to the respective first or secondmembers 15, 20. As shown the end portions 52, 53, may define a framewith an open cavity 54 c. The electrical path 51 can be placed on aninterior or exterior portion of the gasket 50 d. As noted above the endportions may include adhesive 57 to attach to the respective member 15,20, or may otherwise be affixed to the member.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate another embodiment of a gasket 50′. In thisembodiment, the gasket 50′ can function similar to a zipper (or ZIPLOC,see FIG. 9A) to seal the target gap space between the members 15, 20.FIGS. 6B and 6C illustrates that a length of the flexible gasket 50′ cantravel through an aperture 16 in the first member 15. In operation, thebody of the gasket 50′ snugly threads through the aperture 16 and bothlocks the aperture 16 closed when open and unlocks the aperture 16 whilemoving back and forth. The gasket 50′ can include electrical connectors52 c, 53 c that engage the electrical circuits in members 15, 20,respectively. The gasket 50′ may be configured to cover the entire opengap space between the two members 15, 20, when the wireless terminal 10is opened, which can be between about 40×60 mm (width by length).

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a sliding mechanism 60 that can be used toslide the second member 20 over the first member 15. The slidingmechanism 60 can include a plate 60 p that slides along rails 60 r. Theplate 60 p can have a perimeter portion 62 with a contour configured tomatably abut (shown as the gasket 50′ when closed (FIG. 8A).

FIGS. 8A-8B illustrate that the gasket 50′ can be attached to thesliding mechanism 60 via at least one attachment member 66 so that aportion of the gasket 50′ moves directly back and forth with the slidingplate 60 p. Alternatively, the gasket 50′ can be attached only to thesecond member 20 to move in response to movement of the second member 20indirectly in response to movement of the plate 60 p. FIG. 8Cillustrates that the upper member 20 can include a channel 22 that isconfigured to receive the connector 53 c. The connector may extend intothe channel 22 or adhesively attach to the rear (underside) of themember 20.

The attachment of the end portions 52, 53 may be by a connector matablyattachable to the respective member 15, 20. Alternatively, the endportions 52, 53 of the gasket 50′ can be screwed, pinned, snapped oradhesively attached to the respective member 15, 20. As described above,for the adhesive attachment, an optional peel-off removable protectantfilm 59 (FIG. 4) can be applied to the gasket 50 during shipment, thenremoved prior to use or during manufacture of the wireless terminalproduct.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate another matable releaseably lockable gasketconfiguration 50″. The gasket 50″ has long edges 150 a, 150 b thatrelease, then mate together to seal a target space in the member 15 or20 in response to sliding of the member 20.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed embodimentsof the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they areused in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the followingclaims. Thus, the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention andis not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplaryembodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in theart will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in theexemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thisinvention as defined in the claims. In the claims, means-plus-functionclauses, where used, are intended to cover the structures describedherein as performing the recited function and not only structuralequivalents but also equivalent structures. Therefore, it is to beunderstood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present inventionand is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodimentsdisclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as wellas other embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope ofthe appended claims. The invention is defined by, the following claims,with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.

1. A wireless terminal, comprising: a first member; a second memberattached to the first member so that the first or second member slidablytravels about the other member in one direction, between open and closedconfigurations, with the closed configuration being when the secondmember overlies the first member and with the open configuration beingwhen at least of part of a surface of the first member is revealed whichis covered by the second member in the closed configuration; and agasket attached to a cavity defined between the first and secondmembers, the gasket having a main body portion which is resilientlydeformable to repetitively compress as the first and second membersslide between the open and closed configurations, wherein the gasket hasthe main body portion with opposing first and second end portions, oneaffixed to a respective one of the first and second members, wherein themain body portion of the gasket is an elastic member having an elasticforce, in order to fill the cavity when the wireless terminal is in theopen and the closed configurations, wherein the gasket main body portionincludes opposing first and second outwardly extending leg portionsresiding on opposing sides of a fold region, with the first leg portionof the gasket extending in one direction from the fold region of themain body and abutting an inner surface of the first member inside thecavity and the second leg portion extending in the other direction awayfrom the fold region and abutting an inner surface of the second memberinside the cavity, wherein the gasket is configured to provide anelectrical path for electrically connecting between at least onecomponent in the first member to at least one component in the secondmember, and wherein the gasket main body portion is configured tocompress to allow the first and second members to slide between the openand closed configurations while the gasket abuts both the inner surfacesof first and second members to inhibit dust from entering from thecavity to a target interior space of the second member when the wirelessterminal is in the open configuration.
 2. A wireless terminal accordingto claim 1, wherein the fold region resides at a forwardmost location ofthe cavity in a opening sliding direction of the first or second member,wherein the fold portion location is changed as the first or secondmember slides to the open configuration and the first and second legportions vary in length in response thereto, and wherein the second legportion is longer than the first leg portion in the closedconfiguration.
 3. A wireless terminal according to claim 1, wherein thegasket is tubular and compressible.
 4. A wireless terminal according toclaim 1, wherein the first member has a keypad and a power source incommunication with a transceiver that transmits and receives wirelesscommunications signals, wherein the second member has a displayoverlying and slidably attached to the first member, wherein in theclosed configuration the second member covers the keypad on the firstmember, wherein in the open configuration the second member residesabove and axially beyond a top portion of the first member to reveal thekeypad on the first member, and wherein the gasket first end portion isstatically affixed to the first member and the gasket second end portionis statically affixed to the second member.
 5. A wireless terminalaccording to claim 4, wherein the gasket comprises a sliding lock orzipper attachment mechanism.
 6. A wireless terminal according to claim1, further comprising a sliding plate mounted to the first member, theplate having a contoured perimeter portion for closing against aperimeter shape of the gasket, wherein the gasket is attached to thesliding plate and is compressed or extended in response to movement ofthe sliding plate.
 7. A wireless terminal according to claim 6, whereinthe gasket has first and second electrical connection end portions, andwherein the second electrical connection end portion is configured toengage a laterally extending channel formed though a rear surface of thesecond member.
 8. A wireless terminal according to claim 3, wherein theinterior surface of the tubular gasket includes a flex film circuit asthe electrical path.
 9. A portable communication device with a wirelessterminal, comprising: a first member and a second member attached to thefirst member so that the first or second member slidably travels aboutthe other member in one direction, between open and closedconfigurations, with the closed configuration being when the secondmember overlies the first member and with the open configuration beingwhen at least of part of a surface of the first member is revealed whichis covered by the second member in the closed configuration; and aflexible gasket having a main body portion and electrical connections onspaced apart opposing first and second end portions of the main bodyportion, the gasket defining an electrical path therebetween, whereinthe gasket is configured to reside in a cavity defined between the firstand second members and be in abutting contact against the first andsecond members, wherein the gasket is sized and configured to occupy thecavity between the first and second members to seal the cavity therebyinhibiting dust from entering the gap space, wherein the main bodyportion of gasket has a sliding lock or zipper attachment mechanism,wherein the gasket is configured to snugly thread through an aperture inthe first member and both lock the aperture closed when the openconfiguration and unlock the aperture while sliding between the openconfiguration and the closed configuration by the sliding lock or zipperattachment mechanism.